The duo of Niedzwiecki and Gregory desire to portray not only the form, beauty and intricacies of hands, but how important they are to humanity. Essential to everyday life, hands caress, toil, greet, soothe, clap, dig and clench, depending on one’s emotion. Hands are the first human element to welcome a newborn entering the world – and usually the last thing clasped when saying goodbye before joining the afterlife.

It is the story of what hands cradle through life that intrigues both artists. Not only the form of the human hand – with all its flaws, lines, scrapes and scars – but its ability to cradle objects essential to the person holding it. Each person has a “Treasured” possession representing love, pain, survival, or has the ability to stir a multitude of emotions for the individual. The hands and items combined become unique, poignant moments for not only their owners, but those fortunate enough to view these images.